Music for My Soul by Lauren Linwood-A Review and an Interview with the Author
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 15, 2013
As the third wife of an abusive French vineyard owner, Madeleine Bouchard hasn’t produced the expected heir after three years of marriage. Fearing he plans to kill her, she flees during a trip to England. Unable to make her way home, she joins a troupe of traveling mummers and reinvents herself as the only woman troubadour in the land, captivating audiences with both song and story.
Nobleman Garrett Montayne’s fascination with Madeleine causes him to pay the troupe to bypass their next stop in order to journey to his estate. Though he suspects Madeleine of being a thief with dark secrets, love blossoms between them under the magical moon of summer solstice.
But Madeleine’s past is about to catch up with her, as her husband is set to arrive to conduct business with Garrett. Madeleine determines to free herself from her loveless marriage and make a new life with Garrett, no matter what the cost.
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REVIEW: First just a word of caution, this book is very hard to put down! LOL…
It’s difficult to do this review justice as it’s one of those you have to read to believe how good it is! The story is one of basic old world abuse of wives, only this one escapes and finds the love of her life. It’s actually double that, as the hero has also been abandoned and heartbroken…
Madeleine is a young woman married to a monster. Henri de Picassaret is a vineyard owner and makes champagne. He is wealthy and has had three previous wives who have died. Her father thought he would be a good provider for her, not knowing of his love of “punishing” his wives. But after the marriage Heenri forbade her contact with her family and told her family the break was her idea. He has “punished” her for small failings often and severely. She has many scars on her back and legs from his punishments and even a circular scar on her cheekbone from his signet ring. She walks with a slight limp, due to a broken knee from Henri, when she told him she didn’t think her lack of children was her fault or his previous wives, but his. Madeleine is desperate to escape from Henri because she knows she will not live much longer if he has his way.
Fearing for her life and planning to return to her family, then to spend the rest of her life in a convent so as not to evade her marriage vows, Madeleine escapes via a “sally port”. She has secreted many of the jewels Henri gifted to her, (more for his own reputation than for caring for her) inside the hems of her tunics and skirts to pay for her passage to her family in France and her care at the convent.
Finally escaping to the road, she comes later upon two men riding, and fearing capture or that they were bandits she claims to be the wife of Lord Montayne – who has a reputation so dreadful that no one would touch her lest he come after them. However, since one of the men was Lord Montayne they knew she was lying but went along with her story to see what she was up to. Garrett who called himself “Sir Garrett” to Madeleine and his friend “Sir Ashby” decided to help “Lady Montayne” get to London as they tried to find out who she really was.
Garrett’s wife Lynette had run away about three years before and had never been heard of again, leaving him with a lovely little daughter and a broken heart. Here the story truly begins, though I’ve left enough details out so you will still be surprised and intrigued!
Of course, Garrett begins to fall for lovely Madeleine, who BTW sings like a bird and can tell imaginative and wonderful stories to entertain everyone! A very talented lady who plays the lute (another valuable she brought along – her only real possession). Garrett and Ashby stop at a small house outside of London to repair his horse’s shoe, Madeleine gets the smithy’s wife to help her hide from the men (concocting another story for the smithy’s wife) since she’s afraid to go to London with them because she really isn’t Lady Montayne…
Ok, enough spoilers…this is a marvelous and intricate story of desperation, escape, finding love…also of forgiveness, mystery, danger, and righting old wrongs! The tale is incredibly well told with some humor as well as a building romance. The characters are loveable, some you can hate, and some are comic…a little bit of everything!
Lauren Linwood is a wonderful writer with a fantastic imagination. I hope this is only the beginning of many wonderful tales! Believe me, it’s hard to put this one down, I found myself awake until the wee hours of the morning because I just had to know what was going to happen! This book has it all ladies! Please enjoy this one for yourselves, no regrets!
Copy supplied by the author
Reviewed by Georgianna S.
The Reading Cafe would like to introduce the author behind MUSIC FOR MY SOUL-Lauren Linwood
TRC: Hi Lauren and welcome to The Reading Cafe. We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?
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Lauren: I turned my passion for history into a career and taught teenagers for many years, hoping to spark their interest about people in the past and help them connect today with previous yesterdays.
I’m a so-so cook (although I do make a mean tortilla soup) who’s fascinated by MasterChef and The Next Food Network Star. I love to watch historical dramas such as Downton Abbey or The Borgias, yet I also wouldn’t miss Modern Family, White Collar, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, or Grey’s Anatomy.
I wish I could be the host for House Hunters on Vacation, eat at least once in one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants, and get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Something tells me none of these will ever happen!
TRC: Your bio states you have an interest in the medieval historical period. What about this era draws you in and why?
Lauren: Everything! The politics, culture, war, architecture & art, the Church, the Black Death. It actually spans quite a long period in history. So much happened, and that’s the beauty of writing a story with such a rich backdrop of history to draw from.
TRC: MUSIC FOR MY SOUL is your May 2013 release in the medieval fiction genre. Would you please tell us something about the premise?
Lauren: As the third wife of an abusive French vineyard owner, Madeleine Bouchard hasn’t produced the expected heir after three years of marriage. Fearing her husband plans to kill her, she flees during a trip to England. Unable to make her way home, she joins a troupe of traveling mummers and reinvents herself as the only woman troubadour in the land, captivating audiences with both song and story.
Nobleman Garrett Montayne’s fascination with Madeleine causes him to pay the troupe to bypass their next stop in order to journey to his estate. Though he suspects Madeleine of being a thief with dark secrets, love blossoms between them under the magical moon of summer solstice.
But Madeleine’s past is about to catch up with her, as her husband is set to arrive to conduct business with Garrett. Madeleine determines to free herself from her loveless marriage and make a new life with Garrett, no matter what the cost.
TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?
Lauren: I wrote MUSIC FOR MY SOUL to be a stand-alone, yet Garrett’s very charming best friend kept trying to run away with the story! I finally told him if he’d go off to London for part of the book, I promised him he could come back to Stanbury in time to see things resolved, plus I’d write him his own story. I’m hoping my editor at Soul Mate Publishing will be interested in hearing how this flirtatious nobleman has his heart stolen and wants to settle down with his one true love.
TRC: How did you keep your plot of MUSIC FOR MY SOUL unpredictable without sacrificing content or believability especially for a storyline of the medieval genre?
Lauren: Having Madeleine join a troupe of traveling mummers as its troubadour helped somewhat. Being on the road lends itself to unpredictability. When the troupe comes to a faire at Stanbury, the hero’s home, it’s something new and out of the ordinary for his world, so that also changes up what usually happens at a castle. And then I have Madeleine injure herself so that the troupe goes on without her, and she has to think beyond Plan B, C, & D.
TRC: Do the characters talk to you and direct your writing, or do you have complete control over the direction of their story?
Lauren: Oh, I wish I had control over these people! Sometimes it’s like herding cats to get them to do as I wish. I start out with a very general outline, usually a single page with a bullet point list of 15-20 things I want to happen throughout my story. I feel if I get too deeply into an outline, it’ll take the fun out of the writing for me and my characters. I like being surprised!
One example bullet point in MUSIC FOR MY SOUL?
“Madeleine runs away – heads to London.”
Now how she got there – and what happened along the way – simply unfolded as I wrote. I run a movie in my head as I sit at my computer, so my people act and speak while I type furiously to get everything down. At times I try to have them streamline things and take the interstate to their destination. They much prefer getting off on farm-to-market roads and bypasses and meandering awhile, finding new conflicts and dangers that I hadn’t foreseen. They can be quite unpredictable! Eventually, they get back on track – but it’s always on their terms – never mine.
TRC: How thoroughly do you plan out your characters and story before you begin the first draft?
Lauren: I always start with the name of the hero and heroine. Once I have those names, I start visualizing them from their hair length and texture to height and body frames. I dress them, often researching the era online and saving pictures of clothing I think they would wear. Then I sprinkle in character traits. Are they brave? Impatient? Stubborn? After that I give them families, friends, and a back story. Half of this may never make the pages I write, but I have it in mind as I do so.
Once those character sketches are complete (definitely for the hero and heroine, sometimes for the antagonist and a few important secondary characters, but not as full-blown), then I do the brief outline I mentioned. I keep it a bit vague to give me options and let the characters be partners with me throughout the writing journey.
TRC: If you could virtually cast the lead characters of Music For my Soul which actors and models would be represent your ideal image?
Lauren: I adore Henry Cavill and think he’d make a terrific Garrett. Emma Stone has the spunk and inventiveness that characterizes Madeleine.
TRC: What challenges (research, historical, etc) did you face writing this particular novel?
Lauren: Research is much easier nowadays with the Internet. I had access to pictures and diagrams and timelines. The hardest part is integrating historical details that will lend an air of verisimilitude and help my readers learn a little about the period while they’re reading without coming across as a dry history lesson or distracting them from my story.
TRC: How do you deal with the stress and anxiety of writing deadlines?
Lauren: Red wine. Yoga. And I walk 4-5 miles almost every day, which is my major stress-buster. I’m actually very organized, so I like knowing my deadline and plan accordingly. Yes, I was that girl in high school who turned her senior research paper in 2 days early. Hey – it was done and I wanted it gone! Of course, everyone in my class hated me as they raced to slap theirs together, but I digress…
TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about yourself?
Lauren: As a debut author, I just want to land on people’s radars! I doubt there are ANY misconceptions about me because people are just learning about who I am.
TRC: If you could become a contestant on one of the reality television shows, on which show would you like to be a participant?
Lauren: I have never missed a single episode of Survivor. I wish I had the smarts, athleticism, and social game to play it … but besides lacking in those areas, I HATE SNAKES!!! And I’m a mosquito magnet. I’d be the first contestant ever evacuated for having so many mosquito bites, I’d be on death’s doorstep.
TRC: On what are you currently working?
Lauren: I’m finishing up a western historical about a heroine who writes dime novels under a man’s pen name. She jilts her groom at the altar (Don’t worry, she didn’t love him!) and runs west to experience what she writes about. She falls for a gambler running from a gunslinger who wants him dead.
I’m also working on final edits for two western historicals coming out soon. OUTLAW MUSE is an October release about a schoolmarm about to hang for murder and the English playwright who stops the execution and takes off with her. Along the way, he finds his muse and proves her innocence. A GAME OF CHANCE comes out in January, and it’s the story of mistaken identity, with twins literally separated at birth. They don’t know the other exists, and the heroine puts two and two together – all while she’s impersonating her own mother! It’s a true story of mistaken identity.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
Lauren: Simply that I appreciate The Reading Café for hosting me and helping give MUSIC FOR MY SOUL exposure. Thanks so much!
LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food – dark chocolate, hands down (when seafood is not calling my name)
Favorite Dessert – crème brulee
Favorite TV Show – Game of Thrones
Last Movie You Saw – Now You See Me (as I’m answering – but I’m sure I’ll have seen another half-dozen by the time you’re reading this because I’m mad for movies!)
Dark or Milk Chocolate – the darker, the better
Favorite Flower – tulips
TRC: Thank you Lauren for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best in your writing career and congratulations (once again) on
the release of Music for My Soul.
Great review, and it sounds like a wonderful story… love books that involve music.
Thanks, Mary Ann! I played the piano growing up, so I love music. I also sing in the shower. Not well – but heartily!
Thanks M.A., It was a wonderful story with all the things that make hearts pitter patter. I especially love the way Lauren wrote about the abuse of wives…they weren’t all gentlemen!
A wonderful review, Georgianna. You made is sound like something not to be missed.
Nice to meet you, Lauren. I enjoyed your interview very much. I wish you success with your first book.
Thank you so much, Barb! Seeing MUSIC published has been a little surreal – but delightful! I’m looking forward to sharing my 2 westerns with readers.
Thanks Barb, it really was one you don’t want to miss! Just don’t do it when you need sleep! LOL
Great review Georgianna. Sounds like a great story.
Thank you Lauren for the wonderful interview. Always a pleasure to meet the authors.
I appreciate your kind words, Alicia. I really enjoyed doing this interview. Great, thoughtful – and fun! – questions.
Thanks Alicia, it was a really good story, very emotional!
Wonderful review Georgie. Adding it to my TBR pile.
Thank you Lauren for the great interview. We love to hear from the author as well as learn a little bit about ‘behind the scene’.
I laugh at reading “behind the scenes.” Sometimes I feel like the Wizard of Oz and being unmasked! I’m just an ordinary gal who came up with an idea for a story. I’m very happy I got the chance to share it with others who love a good tale with some fun and romance!
You won’t be sorry Sandy! It’s really worth the time!
I do want to thank The Reading Café for hosting me today. I’m sorry I’m checking in so late today with everyone. I wound up coming from Texas on a last-minute visit to my best friend in Idaho. We’ve been out touring today and didn’t have cell service or Internet in Idaho’s National Forest and at Albeni Falls Dam. Sorry to have been out of touch with everyone here. I’ve been posting some pix from this trip over at Facebook, so come check it out! I’ll have some shots of today up soon, but you can see deer and landscapes and all sorts of fun stuff from earlier in the week.
Lauren, thanks for chatting with us and thank you so much for the wonderful story, I truly loved it! Looking forward to more stories from you! Congrats and happy writing!
Georgie – Hats off to you and The Reading Café for hosting me today. I know that 99.9% of reviewers have lives beyond reviewing, so I appreciate the time you took to read MUSIC FOR MY SOUL and your thoughtful, intuitive comments. I love the medieval era. So many people think they don’t, but they haven’t given it a try! A good love story can be set anywhere and in any time. My tagline on my website is “Timeless and Tender Romance” – and I truly believe in that. I hope you can make time to read either OUTLAW MUSE or A GAME OF CHANCE, my upcoming releases from Soul Mate Publishing. Both are westerns set in the 1870s. I’d be interested in your take on my characters from a different era. Hugs to you for the time you spent with Madeleine & Garrett!
No problem, I’m hooked. Just let Sandy know and I’ll find the time! Love you style and subjects. I found the characters really wonderful. I wanted to kill Henri myself, LOL!
Isn’t it fun to really dislike a character? Henri was delicious to write!
A pleasure to meet you Lauren. I loved Georgianna’s review, and your book sounds wonderful. Another Game of Thrones fan, and I do love creme brulee.
I say we make a date to watch next season’s premiere. I’ll even bring the crème brulee…and the wine, of course!
Hey Lauren, you could have a big crowd. Sandy and I love Game of Thrones. I’ll take the wine. 🙂
The more, the merrier! I hate having to wait SO LONG between seasons, but I have to admit that HBO is doing it SO RIGHT!!! They are taking the time, casting quality actors, doing a fab job translating the written word, and the sets are A-MAZING! I’ll start planning the par-tay now!
Game of Thrones is amazing. There is usually a houseful at my place on Sunday nights during GoT season. And of course, everyone has read the series and they are upset with the ‘inaccuracies’ of the TV show!!
I think the TV series can go different places than the books. I haven’t been frustrated at all with their interpretation. I guess they’re doing the “American Idol” thing – and making it their own!
I’ll join this GoT viewing party. Love the show, never read the books but I have complaints about certain stories and characters. Pass the wine please.
Hey, Marcie! Nice to meet another fan of romance and GoT! Don’t think my house is big enough for our party. I may need to rent space!!
Me too! Me too! GOT is my favorite! I can’t wait for it to come back! I’ll bring some dessert!
hey, I didn’t know it was out in book form??? How did I miss this…really smart huh? That was a totally hypothetical question btw…LOL
Terrific review, Georgianna. I’m going to check this book out.
Wonderful interview, Lauren and Sandy. I enjoy meeting new authors, always fun.
And now that I’m on the other end of things as a writer and not the reader? I’m having a blast meeting other readers, too! Thanks for stopping by, Amy.
Thanks Amy! Give this one a read, it’s great!
Georgianna-you make the book sound amazing.
Lauren-congratulations on the new book. It is always fun to meet the author. Thank you. And who doesn’t like Game of Thrones!!
Sassy – Good to meet you as a reader and as a fellow Game of Thrones fan! I’m mad for Arya, Dani, and Tyrion – of course!
I want my own dragon! LOL Thanks Sassy, it was amazing.
Awesome review Georgie!!!! Love the premise! I find myself digging books during this time period and look forward to reading this one!!
Great interview Lauren! Love getting to know a bit about the authors who come by The Reading Café. And, just let me say, I love your cover. I can spot Jimmy Thompson a mile away!! 😉
Vickie, I was thrilled to land Jimmy for my first book. This cover screamed tender and sexy to me! Check out my FB page. I’ve posted October’s cover of OUTLAW MUSE. Another Jimmy!!! I think it’s even better. You can also see it at http://www.laurenlinwood.com
OHHH, I gotta check Jimmy out! Loved the cover as well!
Thanks Vickie it was a fun read!
Great review Georgianna, sounds like a great read. Wonderful interview Lauren and I must say love the cover of your book. Very romantic. Love GoT and can’t wait for ext season.
Covers by Ramona did this cover. She’s already completed OUTLAW MUSE. And she’s contracted for A GAME OF CHANCE. I’m very happy!!
Thanks Marcie! It’s easy to review the really good ones! This was a very complex one as well, I just couldn’t put it down..especially when the house gets all quiet and it’s just me and the story! Love that!
Great review Georgianna. Sounds like a wonderful book.
Thank you for the great interview.
Thanks so much, Alexis! Nice to meet you here in The Reading Cafe.
Thanks Alexis, you’ll love it!
Great review George. This sounds like a very interesting read. I will have to check this one out..
Great Interview Lauren Congrats on your new read.
Thank you, Lori! It’s an exciting time for me as I share the friends in my head.
Wow this sounds like one intense story that will make me cry though in my case at the point, it’s not an hard feat but the point is awwwwww….I want to read this book. It sorta kinda reminds me of Safe Harbor but more deeper.
Awesome interview also!!!
Xtina – A few tears never hurt anyone! I’ve balanced it out with some laughs and romance. Give MUSIC a try!